PAULTON ROVERS 3 MELKSHAM TOWN 3

A lively match from start to finish ended with a draw for the local side.

Rovers’ keeper, Tom Palmer, slickly tipped a cracking drive from Gary Higdon over his bar. From the corner the referee awarded a penalty but it looked as if the ball was handled by a Melksham player. Higdon then converted to give the visitors the lead on 11 minutes.

Three minutes later Rovers were awarded a spot kick after Omar Simpson was dragged down by Warren Maidment. The free kick was then scored by James Byrne.

Rob Brown then saved smartly from Simpson’s shot.

Paulton went ahead on 25 minutes as Simpson turned on Camen Harvey’s lob to beat Brown.

Melksham equalised two minutes after half-time, with Shaun Bennison heading home from a chance set up by Luke Ballinger and Ben Thompson.

Ballinger then put the visitors ahead on 55 minutes, turning home Higdon’s cross.

With six minutes left Simpson levelled for Rovers, turning to drive past Brown from the edge of the penalty area.